Oil well drilling means



May 12, 1959 H. A. GEHRKE 2,886,288

4 OIL WELL DRILLING MEANS Filed Aug. 21, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet l a7 2419-- w ER 23 2| NK 90 P as WATER v SE RATION '5 WATER 1 OUGH CCUTTINGS\CUTTINGS&WATER an \MUD MUD V A g PUMP FIG. 3; I 34 INVENTOR. H. A.GEHRKE ATTORNEY May 12, 1959 H. A. GEHRKE on. WELL DRILLING MEANS 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 21, 1956 IN VEN TOR. I

a av H. A.GEHRKE AT TOR NEY M y 12, 1959 H. A. GEHRKE 2,886,288

OIL WELL DRILLING MEANS Filed Aug. 21, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 1 INVENTOR.

8' H. A. GEHRKE ATTORNEY United States Patent OIL WELL DRILLING MEANSHerman A. Gehrke, Augusta, Kans.

Application August 21, 1956, Serial No. 605,334

8 Claims. (Cl. 255-21) This invention relates to the drilling of wells.In a more specific aspect this invention relates to the drilling of oilwells. In a still more specific aspect this invention relates to thedrilling of oil wells in which operation a drilling fluid is passed downinto the bottom of the well hole during drilling wherein it picks upmaterial removed from the bottom of the hole and carries same to thesurface. In'yet a more specific aspect this invention relates to thedrilling of oil wells using rotary drill equipment in which operation aliquid drilling mud is passed down into the bottom of the well holebeing drilled wherein cuttings removed by the rotary bit are picked upand carried to the surface. And, still more specifically this inventionrelates to changing the usual rotary drill equipment to more efficientlyand effectively handle the drilling mud and cuttings removed from bottomhole in drilling, and to so handle the well drilling process and means.

In the common and usual rotary well drilling apparatus for drilling oilwells, a drill string of threadedly joined sections of drill pipe isrotated at the surface by a rotary table and power means therefor and bya Kelly tool which is operatively connected to the table to be turnedthereby, and which in turn is connected to the top section of pipe ofthe drill string to rotate the string. The lower end of the lowersection of drill pipe mounts the usual rotary bit which cuts materialfrom bottom hole when the drill string is rotated to in turn rotate thebit. Drilling mud is pumped from the surface through the drill pipe andcentral conduit in the rotary bit out around the bit cutting cones wherethe mud picks up the cuttings removed from bottom hole by the bit, and

these cuttings and drilling mud are passed up to the surface in theannular space between the drill pipe and well hole. The cuttings areseparated from the mixture, 'the mud diluted and/or treated as otherwisedesired,

and passed back into the drill pipe for further use to pick up cuttings.Relatively high pressure and large equipment are necessary to handlethis usual mud C11- culation method, and enough pressure must be put onthe mud stream at the surface to overcome the entire frictional loss dueto flow down the drill pipe and back up the space between the drill pipeand well hole. Needless to say these losses are great due to the natureof the mud and the rough well hole walls. Also, the well walls are insome instances such that loss of mud into formations is great, and largecavities, etc., in formations have resulted in loss of practically theentire mud supply. In addition, the mud in contact with the well wallhas caused producing formations to be missed, or damaged to the extentthat flow area from the formation is substantially decreased and theultimate recovery from the field drastically curtailed. I have inventednew means and methods for drilling wells using drilling fluids where-:in the drilling fluid is always contained in the ground kin'the drillpipe or a conduit within the drill pipe except The many disadvanin thevery bottom of the hole. tages of the usual drilling method and meansare over- 2 come by the new devices, apparatus and methods of myinvention.

The new means of my invention for drilling an oil well utilizes a drillstring whereon a lower member is mounted which has a chamber to receivedrilling fluid and material removed from bottom hole, and the lowermember has a passageway therein which communicates between bottom holeand the chamber. This chamber member is adapted to mount the tool ortools which remove material from the bottom of the well hole inoperation. The drill string has an upper drill pipe assembly in conduitcommunication with the chamber of the lower member. In this drill stringis mounted means to deliver drilling fluid to the bottom of the holeduring drilling, and means to con ey the drilling fluid plus thematerial removed from the bottom of the hole and picked up by the fluidto the surface. The drill string has means therewith by which it can beoperated by suitable power means. The new means for drilling an oil wellof my invention is adapted upon operation to pass the drilling fluid tobottom hole, to receive drilling fluid and material removed from bottomhole in the chamber of the lower member via the passageway therein, andto pass the mixture of fluid and material up to the surface through thedrill string. I prefer that a compacting member be included in the drillstring and positioned therein above the lower member having the chamber.In op' eration by the string operation, this compacting means moves incontact with the walls of the well hole to shape and condition them, asdesired.

It is an object of this invention to provide new methods and means fordrilling wells.

It is another object of this invention to provide new methods and meansto drill oil wells where drilling fluids are employed to bring materialremoved from the well hole to the surface.

It is a further object of this invention to provide new means to drilloil wells by the rotary method where drilling mud is used to carry drillcuttings from bottom hole to the surface.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide new means tocooperate in combination with the usual rotary drill bit, pipe string,and powering assembly, with only slight change, to provide a new rotarymethod and means wherein the usual disadvantages associated withhandling drilling mud are eliminated.

Yet a further object of my invention is to provide new means fordrilling an oil well which are eflicient, easy to operate, lessexpensive to manufacture and to use than the common type, and which areparticularly reliable in operation.

Other objects and advantages'of the new drilling means of my inventionwill become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading thisdisclosure.

Drawings accompany and are a part of this disclosure. These drawingsdepict preferred specific embodiments of the new drilling means of myinvention as applied to rotary drilling, and it is to be understood thatsuch are not to unduly limit the scope of my invention. In the drawings,

Fig. l is a schematic view in elevation of a preferred specificembodiment of the new drilling means of my invention in relation toauxiliary derrick means, and drilling mud handling means.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal elevation view partly in crosssection of thenew lower receiving means of the drill string which has a chambertherein and which mounts the drill bit.

Fig. 3 is a view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal elevation view partly in cross section of thenew packer of the drill string which ,is mounted in the string above thereceiving member.

assesses Fig. is a view taken on line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a view taken on line 66 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is an elevation view partly in cross section of thesuperstructure of the drill string which operates same and whichprovides for introduction and outlet of the drilling fluids.

Following is a discussion and description of the new drilling methodsand means of my invention made with reference to the drawings whereonthe same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similarparts or structure. The discussion and description is of preferredspecific embodiments of the new drilling means of my invention, and itis to be understood that such is not to unduly limit the scope of myinvention.

Referring to Fig. 1, the new drilling means of my invention is used withthe usual derrick structure 9, Kelly tool 11, and rotary table 13 whichare employed in the usual manner. A common separating trough 15 is usedfor settling and separating the bottom hole cuttings from the drillingmud returned via preferably flexible line 17 to trough 15. Thesecuttings are suitably disposed of and the low viscosity drilling mud,preferably substantially water, is returned to Water supply tank 19 forreuse and reinjection into the well by pump 21 and via line 23. Line 23is connected to a preferably flexible hose or line 24 which flexes inuse as the drill string and operating equipment move up and down. A line25 and small mud pump 27 are preferably provided to introduce mud intothe well hole 29 between the drill string and well wall for sealingpurposes, etc., if desired or required in operation.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, the new drill string of my invention hasa lower hollow receiving member 32 which is preferably elongated andwhich has a plurality of longitudinal slots 34 therein which inoperation communicate with the chamber within member 32 and the space inthe bottom of well hole 29. These slots 34 are preferably narrow toprevent large size pieces of cuttings from entering the chamber withinmember 32, and I have found a slot width of from A; to inch to bepreferable. The lower end of member 32 is threaded to receive the drillbit 37 which can be any suitable and known drill bit such as the rotarythree cone cutter shown. In operation member 32 rotates along with therest of the drill string and bit 37, and cuttings removed from bottomhole by rotary bit 37 are picked up and passed by the drilling fluidthrough slots 34 into the chamber of member 32, and thence to thesurface as will be set forth hereinafter.

Referring now to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the compacting member 40 of myinvention is inserted in the drill string, preferably just above thereceiving member 32 and threadedly secured thereto to rotate therewithin operation. Compacting means 40 has an inner elongated and hollowhousing 42 which is in conduit communication with the hollow or chamberof receiving member 32. Around housing or pipe 42 is mounted an uppersleeve 44 and a lower sleeve 46. These sleeves mount roller compactingmembers 48 which have the ends of the shafts 50 therethrough mounted inbearings 52. These bearings are mounted in recesses therefor in sleeves44 and 46. Member 42 is preferably longitudinally grooved on its outsideto provide recesses wherein roller compacting members turn in operationas housing 42 is rotated with the drill string. Spiral springs 5 aremounted in and backed by housing 42, with their outer ends in contactwith bearings 52 to urge same outwardly. In operation this provides forroller compacting members 48 to be pressed into contact with the wallhole 29, so that the surface of the rollers pack and shape the Wallhole. And, compacting means 40 can be used to seal formations, etc.,during operation with relatively heavy mud introduced through line 25into the space between the drill string and well hole 29. As manycompacting members 40 can be used as desired.

Next in the string and above the compacting member 40 is the usual drillpipe 55, and as many sections of same are used as is necessary to reachthe surface for joining with the Kelly tool 11 which rotates the drillstring to rotate rotary bit 37. The lower pipe 55 is threadedly securedto the upper end of compacting means it) to turn therewith as tool 11turns the string, and the drill pipe is in conduit communication withcompacting member 4-9 and receiver 32.

In the new drilling means of my invention the cuttings removed frombottom hole by bit 37 are picked up by drilling mud supplied throughpipe 6%} to the usual central mud conduit (not shown) in hit 37. Thecuttings and mud pass upwardly and into the chamber of receiver 32through slots 34 therein as indicated by arrows 36 (Fig. 2). Pipeconduit 60 rotates in operation preferably counter to the drill string,and the pipe has a spiral flange 62 fixed thereto to provide a flightconveyor which picks up the cuttings and drilling mud and carries themto the surface, pipe 60 and flange 62 extending from the lower end ofreceiver 32 to the surface within the drill string. The conveyor ispreferably made in sections approximately the same length as the drillpipe sections and suitably joinable, preferably threadedly joinable asthe drill pipe sections, so additional flight conveyor sections can beadded along with each drill pipe section. Lines 70 indicate the pointsof joining the sections of conveyor. The pipe 69 has a flange 65 fixedthereto on the lower end which rides on a bearing 67 which in turn issupported by plate 69 fixed and held in the lower end of receiver 32.

At the surface the drill string is rotated in the usual manner by theKelly tool 11, and in the preferred specific embodiment shown, the Kellytool is modified and adapted to also rotate pipe 60 counter to the drillstring. This is done by fixing a spur gear 65 to the top of the Kellytool 11 to turn therewith. This spur gear turns spur gear 67 which isfixed to turn shaft 69 journaled in the supporting framework havingupper and lower supporting members 71 and 73, respectively, such beingconnected and held together by threaded rods 75. Shaft 69 has a sprocket74 fixed thereon to turn therewith. Chain 76 connects this sprocket to asprocket 78, which is mounted on the upper end of the operating flightconveyor having a conduit and a spiral flange 82. This drives pipe 80counter the drill string and thus pipe 60 counter drill pipe 55 and thecompacting means 40 receiver 32 and bit 37. I have found it preferableto gear such that the conveyor turns considerably faster than the drillpipe 55, a 4 to 1 ratio having been found preferable.

The lower platform supporting member 73 has a centrally located holethrough which the Kelly tool 11 extends and in which it turns inoperation. The usual mud header 77 can be employed, and is mounted inthe framework above the gear 65 in any suitable manner. Header 77 hascentrally located holes 79 and 81 therein through which the flightconveyor pipe 80 projects and in which it turns, and the cuttings anddrilling mud are carried into header 77 and out outlet 17. This isreverse the flow of the usual mud header, but the usual header can beeasily modified for the new use.

The whole of the framework is hung by U-bolt assembly 85 from block 87operated by the tackle 89 and which is supported on the derrick 9. Theblock and frame work assembly lowers as the well is drilled, and theblock and tackle are used to raise the assembly for insertion of newsections of drill pipe 55 and conveyor pipe 60 into the drill string.

In operation the drilling mud, preferably substantially water, is pumpedby pump 21 into the top of pipe 80 through line 24 which is connected torotating pipe 80 by any suitable water tight connector 90. The waterflows down pipe 60 to hit 37 as indicated by the arrows, and out aroundthe cones of bit 37 where it picks up cuttings from bottom hole. Thewater and cuttings flow through relatively narrow openings 34 into thechamber of receiver 32. These openings are narrow to exclude largepieces of cuttings which fall back to be ground .smaller by the bit. Theflight conveyor 6062 picks up the cuttings and water and carries them tothe surface and "out line 17 to separating trough 15. The waterseparated departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure or fromthe scope of the claims.

I claim:

1 1. Means for drilling an oil well by rotary drilling methods,comprising, in combination: bottom hole rotary drill means having athreaded receptacle in its lower end portion threadedly mounting foroperation a rotary drill bit, said drill means having an outer elongatedhollow housing with a plurality of spaced longitudinal slots therein,said housing adapted to turn in operation to rotate said rotary drillbit; compacting means threadedly secured in its lower end portion to theupper end portion of said drill means housing to rotate therewith, saidcompacting means having an elongated hollow housing with the conduitresulting from said housing in direct flow communication with saidhollow and slots of said drill means housing, said compacting meanshousing having a plurality of spaced roller compacting members rotatablymounted around and longitudinal to said compacting means housing on theoutside thereof, and spring means urging said roller compacting membersoutwardly and said roller compacting members adapted to rotate uponrotation of said compacting means with said roller compacting members incontact with the walls in drilling; a string of drill pipe threadedlysecured together and threadedly secured in its lower end portion totheupper end portion of said compacting means to turn same in operation,the conduit of said string of drill pipe being in direct flowcommunication with the hollow of said compacting means; drilling mudconduit means having spiral flange flight conveyor means rotatably andcoaxial- 1y mounted Within and throughout the length of the conduit ofsaid rotary drill means, compacting means and drill pipe string to turncounter thereto in operation, said mud conduit means comprising, aplurality of sections of pipe threadedly secured together to turntogether, the lower end portion of said pipe being bearingly mounted inthe lower end portion of said rotary drill means in position to sealsaid hollow of said rotary drill means from the drilling mud conduit ofsaid rotary drill bit, and said sections of pipe each individuallyhaving spiral flight conveyor means on the outside thereof throughoutits length; means to rotate said string of drill pipe and to rotate saidmud conduit pipe in the opposite direction; means to introduce drillingmud into said mud conduit pipe at the surface; and means to remove saidmud and cuttings returned to the surface; and said means for drilling anoil well adapted upon operation to remove material as cuttings from thewell bottom with such being picked up by drilling mud passed to said bitthrough said mud pipe, and with the resulting mixture of mud andcuttings passing into said rotary drilling means through said slots andbeing conveyed to the surface by said flight conveyor within said drillpipe string, compacting means and rotary drill means.

2. Means for drilling a well, comprising, in combination, a rotary drillstring having a lower hollow receiving member, a rotary well drillingbit having drilling teeth mounted on the lower end portion of saidhollow receiving member, hollow compacting means in conduitcommunication with said receiving member, and an upper drill pipe inconduit communication with said hollow compacting means, said receivingmember having openings therein communicating with the outside of saidstring and the hollow of said receiving member, said compacting meanshaving a plurality of roller compacting members mounted on the outsidethereof and constructed and operative to rollingly contact the hole wallto pack same during'drilling operation, a drilling fluid conduitrotatably mounted for rotation within said drill pipe, compacting meansand receiving member and constructed and operative to deliver drillingfluid to the fluid conduit of said drilling bit, said drilling fluidconduit having flight conveyor means therewith formed by a spiral flangearound said conduit, means by which said drill string can be rotated andby which said drilling fluid conduit can be rotated, and said means fordrilling a well constructed and operative in drilling operation tofunction in a substantially vertical position, to pass drilling fluid tobottom hole through said drilling fluid conduit, to pass drilling fluidand bottom hole cuttings upwardly around said rotary drilling bit, toreceive said drilling fluid and bottom hole cuttings in said receivingmember through said openings therein and pass same up to the surface bysaid flight conveyor means through said drill string.

3. Means for drilling an oil well, comprising, in combination, a rotarydrill string having a lower member having a receiving chamber, a rotarydrill bit having teeth thereon mounted on said lower member in the lowerend portion of said member, said rotary drill string having an upperdrill pipe in conduit communication with said receiving chamber, saidreceiving member having an opening therein communicating with theoutside of said drill string and said chamber, a drilling fluid conduitmounted for rotation within said drill pipe and receiving chamber andconstructed and operative to deliver drilling fluid to bottom hole indrilling operation, said drilling fluid conduit having conveyor meanstherewith, means constructed and operative to rotate said rotary drillstring and said drilling fluid conduit in drilling operation, and saidmeans for drilling a well constructed and operative in drillingoperation to function in a substantially vertical direction, to passsaid drilling fluid to bottom hole through said drilling fluid conduit,to pass drilling fluid and bottom hole cuttings upwardly around therotary drill bit, to receive said drilling fluid and bottom holecuttings in said receiving chamber through said opening, and pass sameto the surface by means of said conveyor means through said drill stringbetween said drill pipe and drilling mud conduit therein.

4. The drilling means of claim 3 wherein said drill string hascompacting means therein above said receiving member, and saidcompacting means has rotatable means adapted in operation to rollinglycontact the wall of the hole being drilled.

5. The drilling means of claim 3 wherein said conveyor means is a flightconveyor with a spiral flange on the outside of said drilling mudconduit.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means to rotate said string ofdrill pipe and to rotate said mud conduit pipe in the opposite directionhas a kelly operatable by a rotary table with a spur gear fixed to saidkelly in the top end portion thereof to turn therewith, a second spurgear operatively positioned to turn with said Kelly spur gear, and achain and sprocket drive operatively connecting the shaft of said secondspur gear and said mud conduit so that upon rotation of said kelly saiddrill pipe is rotated in one direction and said mud conduit is rotatedin the opposite direction.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means by which said drillstring can be rotated and by which said drilling mud conduit can berotated has a kelly operatable by a rotary table with a spur gear fixedto said kelly in the top end portion thereof to turn therewith, a secondspur gear operatively positioned to turn with said Kelly spur gear, anda chain and sprocket drive operatively connecting the shaft of saidsecond spur gear and said mud conduit so that upon rotation of saidkelly said drill pipe is rotated in one direction and said mud conduitis rotated in the opposite direction.

8. Means for drilling a Well, comprising, in combinati'on, a drillstring having lower means having a chamber, rotary drill means havingteeth thereon mounted on said lower means, said drill string containingan upper pipe in conduit communication with said chamber of Said lowermeans, conduit means mounted within said chamber and pipe constructedand operative in drilling operation to deliver drilling fluid to bottomhole, a passageway in said lower means communicating between saidchamber therein and a point outside said string, mechanical means withinsaid chamber and drill pipe constructed and operative in drillingoperation to convey material to the surface in the annular space betweensaid drilling fluid conduit means and said pipe, means operativelyconnected to operate said rotary drill means, and said means fordrilling a well constructed and operative to function in substantiallyvertical position, to

in operation pass drilling fluid to bottom hole through References Citedin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 758,781 Roelofson May3, 1904 868,565 Huffmaster Oct. 15, 1907 1,621,569 Wellensiek Mar. 22,1927 2,641,444 Moon June 9, 1953 2,670,046 Kinzbach Feb. 23, 19542,716,018 Williams Aug. 23, 1955 2,742,264 Snyder Apr. 17, 1956

